Propeller



P M. WEDDELL.

PBOPELLER.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2s. I9I9.

1,326,701. Patented Des. 30,1919.

FIGLzRr-l, 2

FI'GLJRE 5 I 'NVE-HNR HIS ATTQRNEY P MARK WEDDELL, 0F .SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

' PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Dec, 3()s 1919 Application filed August V26, 1919. Serial No. 320,055.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, P MARK IVEDDELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable pro-- tween the blades at their inner ends so that an adjustment of one blade will effect a corresponding adjustment ofthe other blade in the opposite direction, and in which -all of theparts are so positioned with relation 4 to each other that a strong, durable, easily operated propeller is secured, and one in which all parts thereof may be perfectly balanced in any and all positions of the blades. l

In the drawing: A Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the Lpropeller mounting forming the basis of this invention,

with the blades extended horizontally.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the propellermounting shown in Fig. 1 with blades extended vertically, with operating means attached thereto, and with .parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on 3 3 'of Fio. 1.

eferring more particularly to the'drawing, at 1 I show a housing of suitable size and form, in which are formed bearings 2 and 3 'for shafts 4 and 5 respectively. Shafts 4 and 5 carry sockets 6a`nd 7 respectively in which are securely bolted propeller blades 8 and 9. On the inner squared ends of shafts 4 and 5 are secured opposing bevel gears 10 and 11. vShafts 4 and 5 are Tprovided with threaded portions as' 12 and 13 with intermediate smooth portions as 14 and 15, and locking blocks 16 'and 17 are also provided with threaded portions as 18 and 19 and intermediate smooth portions 20 and 21, so that the said blocks 16 and 17 may be slipped into position on their respectfve shafts, turned a distance thereon to engage the corresponding threaded, portions of said shafts and fastened against further rotation catch 4l.

thereon by any suitable means as pins 22 and 23 lockedto gears 10 and 11 against accidental displacement. l

In the present case I have shown propeller shaft`24 passing through housing 1 and keyed thereto-and secured against accidental displacement therefrom. Rotatably mounted on shaft 24 and on pins 25 and 26 setin `housing 1, are pinions 27-28-29 and 30 in permanent engagement with bevel gears 10and 1l. y

Any suitable means may be provided for adjusting blades S and 9 such as collar 3l slidably mountedon shaft 24 and prevented from lturning thereon by key 32, and carrying arms 33 and v34 attached to opposite sides of sockets 6 and 7 as at 35 and 36.

This collar is shifted by means of yoke 37 engaging collar 31 and rod 3 8 connected to lever 39, the latter being mounted on a suitable quadrant 40 where it may be locked in any In assembling 'the device the propeller yblades are placed in position with shafts are now secured ontheir respective shafts and -keyed to blocks 16 and 17. The 'shaft 24 and pinions 27-28-29 and 30 having desired position by means of` been placed in osition the housing is bolted together and tie operating mechanism assembled and connected to the sockets as shown.

It is Anow clear that the propeller may now be driven at any desired speed and the blades will be fixed against displacement from the shaft 24. By means of the adjusting 4mechanism the blades may be rotated to any desired degree in either direction thereby enabling the operator to meet a wide variation of air conditions (when used on an air craft) without altering the f speed ofthe engine. This feature is espe- Icially advantageous when the' device is 1 ble than is'possible with the present equipment, and this without necessarilyvaltering the speed of the engines of the aircraft.

Another feature of` special advantage in this form of construction is that Vthe gear mechanism being always in mesh it acts as a lock against automatic adjustment of the blades as they may be constructed to balance perfectly so that the tendency of one bladeI broken the remaining member would,` through the gear connections shown, still have perfect control of the blade to which the broken member was attached.

It is understood, of course, that while I have herein shown `and described one embodiment of my invention, that changes in form, proportions, construction and method of operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

Al. A propeller including a head xedly mounted on the propeller shaft, a pair of opposed bevel gears rotatably mounted in said head in parallel relation to said shaft,

a plurality of pinions revolubly mounted in said head in permanent mesh with said bevel gears, a propeller blade rigidly connected to each bevel gear in axial alinement therewith, and means for rotating said bevel gears' and their respective blades a predetermined distance in opposite directions.

2. A propeller including a head Xedly mounted on the propeller shaft and provided with bearings at right angles to said shaft, propeller blades provided with shafts to engage said bearings, eachof said shafts having a bevel gear xedly mounted on theV end thereof and provided with spaced threaded portions between said gear and its respective bearing, a locking block provided `with 'interior spaced threaded portionsV adapted to engage the spaced threaded portions 0f-said shaft, means for locking s'aid block to said gear when the threaded portions are engaged, a plurality of idler pinions mounted in permanent mesh with said gears, and means for rotating 4said propeller blade shafts a predetermined distance in opposite directions.

P MARK WEDDELL.V 

